DESPITE a subsisting court order, Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, on Friday, May 24, issued a letter of appointment as the Emir of Kano to Muhammad Sanusi 11.
Recall that the Federal High Court in Kano has granted an ex-parte order stopping the governor from reinstating Sanusi, pending the determination of a substantive suit filed against signing into law of the Bill passed by the state House of Assembly earlier in the day, repealing the State Emirate Council Law 2019.
The order also affected the scrapping of Bichi, Gaya, Karaye and Rano emirates, as contained in the new law.
The Assembly had on Thursday, May 23, passed the Bill dissolving the four additional emirates created by the immediate past administration of former governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and dethroned the five emirs, including that of Kano.
Speaking while signing the Bill repealing the State Emirate Council Law 2019 that created five emirate councils into law, at the Government House, shortly after its passage, Yusuf contended that the new law provided for the reinstatement of Sanusi as Emir of Kano and removal of all the five emirs in the five emirates enthroned by the abrogated law, in fulfillment of his campaign promise to residents of the ancient city and the state.
But the court directed all parties involved to maintain status quo ante, pending the determination of the suit, filed by Sarkin Dawaki Babba and Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi on Thursday.
Justice A.M. Liman also granted leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to issue and serve their concurrent originating motion, as well as all other court processes, on the 6th Defendant (IGP) in FCT, Abuja, and outside the jurisdiction of the court.
The Judge ruled: “In view of the constitutional and jurisdictional issues apparent on the face of the application, parties shall address the court on same at the hearing of the fundamental rights application, which is fixed for the 3rd of June, 2024.
“That in order to maintain the peace and security of the state, an interim injunction of this honourable court is granted restraining the Respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalising the Kano State Emirate Law Council (Repeal) Law.
“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante, the passage and assent of the Bill, pending the hearing of the fundamental rights application.”
Justice Liman adjourned the case until June 3, for hearing.
The Defendants in the suit include Kano State Government; Kano State House of Assembly; Speaker of the Assembly; Commissioner of Police; the Inspector General of Police (IGP); Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services.
But at a ceremony at Government House, Kano, the governor said: “By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure to confirm the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council.”
At the ceremony, which comes four years after he was deposed by the immediate past governor of the state and embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Yusuf reminded Sanusi of his role, urging him to lead according to Islamic tenets.
“As the Emir is being appointed for the second time, it is based on his competence, credibility and popularity. I urge him to be guided by the principles of Islamic teachings and to use his position to unite the emirate, fostering harmony among the Islamic sects in the state.”
Traditional rulers, kingmakers and other top dignitaries were in attendance at the event, about barely one day after the governor signed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 into law, paving the way for Sanusi’s return to the throne.
The new law replaced the Kano State Emirates Council Law, 2019, and dissolves the additional Karaye, Bichi, Rano and Gaya emirates created by Ganduje.
Yusuf said the amendment was a case of victimisation and narrated events culminating in the reappointment of Sanusi: “We had a series of meetings with the kingmakers yesterday (May 23), extensive discussions with the Speaker, and we also sat with all the heads of security.
“At the end of the day, we all gathered in the chamber, where I received the Bill that repealed the former law, and we signed the new law repealing all the appointments.
“We did that out of our convictions and belief that this gentleman was victimised in 2019. We all feel that we must restore what is due to the good people of the state.”
While thanking the Assembly for the Bill, the governor stated: “Let me use this opportunity to humbly thank the Speaker and all members of the House for your determination and respect for the rule of law. It shows your interest in the welfare of the people of the state.”
He stated earlier: “From the very moment I signed the Bill into law, it means that all appointments made in accordance with that 2019 law are voided and the balkanised Kano Emirate has been restored to its original pre-2019 status.
“The repeal of the 2019 law means that there is no emir in Kano as of now, except the reinstated emir.”
Emir Sanusi II, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), then known as Lamido Sanusi, was removed from office four months earlier by then President Goodluck Jonathan before becoming the emir.
